CENTER FOR CULTURAL INTERACTION IN COSTA RICA
The Center for Cultural InterAction (CCI) is a Costa Rican agency which offers people the opportunity to combine Spanish instruction with other important components such as internship or volunteer community work. We also offer specialized courses/seminars in many fields. For example: Central American History, Culture and Civilization, Literature, Environmental Studies and Spanish courses for medical and business professions. In partnership with our organization, our participants can enjoy a rewarding period of cultural interaction and make new friendships in one of the most popular countries in Latin American. The professional staff has many year of experience in the handling of international education programs. We provide friendly advice to each of our participants and a great deal of personal attention. At our agency, we make our guest feel comfortable and at ease.
We have worked during many years with Georgia Southern University with a Spanish and Internship Program. We also work in association with Costa Rica Study Abroad, which, in affiliation with several U.S. universities, has executed many study abroad program in the last 20 years.
San Isidro de Heredia Church We are located in beautiful San Isidro de Heredia, a quiet but progressive community only 35 minutes away from San José and about 15 minutes by car.
Homestay with Costa Rican families
The experience of sharing your time with a Costa Rican family will expose you to the benefit of daily conversation plus the opportunity to get to know our customs, traditions, and way of life and to form long, important lasting friendships with our people. The host family provides the guest/s with three daily meals, a shared family bathroom with warm water, a private clean bedroom and of course caring, friendly advice.
Our Programs:
There are many advantages that participants of our Spanish & Culture Program will obtained; for example: learning a practical, interactive language in a dynamic setting which includes lots of phrases and idiomatical expressions most commonly used by natives. Participants will be able to use every language item learned in a comfortable environment and in an easy, relaxed manner.
Individuals will be taught by experienced, native teachers with degrees in teaching Spanish as a Second Language.Approximately every two weeks participants will be exposed to museums, theaters, farmer markets, sites of architectural importance, visits to the city, etc.
Our program may also offer, if requested, as an additional component and for a low cost, the following services:
Field trips by bus to local crafts markets, visits with artisans, visits to organic and medicinal gardens, reforestation projects, etc, and have the opportunity to do a field experience or volunteer work for a short time, if desired.Levels of instructions:
Our language instruction is taught in all different levels, from beginning to more proficient levels and they will be adapted to the participants’ specific needs.
We welcome people from all professional backgrounds and age is not a limitation.
For ADVANCE or more PROFICIENT levels, we offer practical reading and writing seminars, Latin American Literature and advance oral communication workshops.Cost in Costa Rica:
Short term (4 weeks) $2,000
Long term (8 weeks) $3,250
This program can be extended to additional weeks when requested.Includes: Spanish instruction, family-stay with local families (room and board,) visits to museums, theaters, farmer markets, sites of architectural importance, visits to the city,etc. For groups larger than 10, we will one or two field trips
Language and Culture in Nicaragua:
For students wanting to take part in international experiences outside Costa Rica, we can arrange for an affordable additional cost, cultural and Spanish instruction in exciting communities in Nicaragua such as in the towns of Masaya and Granada.
Hand in hand, a Business & Language Program
Our “hand in hand” program is especially designed for university students in Business and Spanish careers, who would like to combine these two fields in order to obtain a very valuable, international business experience in Costa Rica, in the following areas: Business Administration, International Trade, Import, Export, Foreign Commerce, Marketing and many more.
We offer graduates and undergraduates the opportunity to acquire work experience in Costa Rica in a friendly, professional and supportive environmental. By participating in this program, an individual’s knowledge and perspective of the world of foreign business will be vastly enhanced, along with the job opportunities that overseas markets are currently providing. Many important businesses and corporations overseas are now giving a hiring edge to people with overseas and foreign language experience.
We count with an extensive network of local and foreign businesses which allows us to offer several specialized business programs.
Duration of program: 12 weeks
Cost: $4.000 Includes 40 hours of Spanish instruction, family stay (room and board,) business orientation and the professional internship in the participant’s field of expertise or similar area.
Spanish & Community Volunteer Work Programs
Overseas volunteer programs are not just exciting and adventure-filled opportunities, they are also can make a great deal of difference in many peoples’ lives and an important contribution to humanity and to our planet.
With this program the participant can work in community projects and ecological volunteer assignments in semi-rural areas such as in Heredia, (northeast of San José.) Villa Colón. Acosta and Tabarcia de Mora (west of San José,) Cartago, (east of San José) and several other rural zones.
Some areas of volunteer work are:
Environmental Areas:
Teach (ESL) English in poor schools
Working in sustainable projects in community centers or schools
Health, preventive medicine, working in small community clinics
Farming/Agricultural
Environmental education
National Parks
Reforestation projects
Organic farming
Aquaculture and Alternative Fishing
Pollution prevention programs
Recycling
And many other more…High school students, graduates and non-graduates university students, working professionals, retirees, and people wanting to volunteer overseas are welcome to apply. Individuals with limited Spanish are also welcome to apply for assignments where English is spoken.
Options for International volunteering:
1. Duration of program: 4 weeks
Cost: $1,700 Includes 36 hours of Spanish instruction, family stay (room and board,) orientation and field work placement for one week.2. Duration of program: 8 weeks
Cost: $2,500 Includes 72 hours of Spanish instruction, family stay (room and board,) orientation and field work placement for two weeks.Important note: Individuals interested in volunteer projects without the Spanish instruction can contact us for cost and information.
University Credits for all above programs:
All of our participants will receive an attractive certificate of completion. We cannot offer academic credit for college and university students in any area of study.
If college credits are needed, these have to be previously negotiated with a higher education institution prior to participation in any of our programs.
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